Folding table



(No Model.)

A. J. DBLAVIGNE.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 433,277. Patented July 29, 1890.

W/ TNESSE S Wm @W UNITED STATES PATENT i OFFICE.

ALPHONSE J. DELAVIGNE, OF NElV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,27*?, dated July 29, 1890.

Application tiled February 7. 1890. Serial No. 339,578. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALPHONSE J. DELA- vIGNE, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention is an improvement in the class ot folding tables which are adapted to fold like an umbrella.

The novelty is embodied in the construction and combination of certain parts, as hereinafter specied.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, 1n which similar letters and ligures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thc views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the table unfolded for use, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view ot the table when folded up to be stored away. Fig. 3 is a central Vertical section through a portion of the upper part ot the table when in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar section of the lower portion of the table when in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The body of the table consists of a standard 10, circular from a point a near its lower end to the upper portion, and rectangular in cross-section from the said point a to its bot tom. From slightly above the point a the standard is hollow to the upper end, or the standard may be hollow thropghout, and in the hollow section ot the standard a slot l1 is formed in opposite sides. A slight distance below the top of the standard a series of straight ribs 12 is hinged in any suitable or approved manner, the said ribs being made to radiate from the standard in like manner with the ribs of an umbrella. Each rib 12, as in an umbrella, is provided with a stretcherrod 13, hinged at one end to the rib and at the lower end to a traveler 14, held to slide upon the standard. Upon the upper end of the standard a hollow ball or equivalent ornament 15 is placed, the said ball being provided with an attached sleeve 16, capable of being readily attached upon the standard or detached therefrom, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

The traveler or runner 14 is provided with an attached cross-bar 17, secured to opposite sides, which bar extends through the slots 11 of the standard. lVithin the ball, at its upper surface, one end of a rope 18 is iirmly secured, which rope extends downwardthrough the bore of the standard, and is attached in any approved manner to the cross-bar 17 of the runner 11, as shown in Fig. 4.

Below the runner 14 the rope 18 is made to terminate in four strands 19, which strands are carried out in opposite directions upon four sides ot' the standard through openings 20, made therein for that purpose, each of said openings having journaled therein a friction-- roller 21, beneath which the several strands pass.

Each strand 19 of the rope or cord 1S is secured to a leg 22, one leg being hinged at the bottom to each side ot the standard. The strands ot the cord or rope 1S are secured to the legs 22 at or near the center of the latter, and nearer the outer than the inner side. The inner side of each leg, or that side which is to be brought in contact With the iloor or other support upon which the table is to be placed, is perfectly straight, as illustrated at b in Fig. 4. The outer side edge, however,

may be made ornamental, and the outer oro lower end of each leg at the outer side face is beveled,so that when the legs are folded down in the same plane with the longitudinal axis of the standard, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower ends of the legs may be inserted in a ferrule 23, whereby they are held in the closed position.

In operation, when it is desired to set the table up, the ball 15 is drawn upward, the ferrule 23 having been previously removed, and by drawing the ball upward the rope or cord 18 is also drawn upward, and by reason of the attachment of the latter with the runner of the frame ot` the table the ribs 12 are carried to the horizontal position at a right angle to the standard, and the braces are made to assume the position they would oceupyin an open umbrella, as shownin Fig. 1. Vhen the runner has been drawn upward as far as possible, it is sustained in such position by means of a bow-sprin g 24, corresponding to the bow-sprin g of 'an umbrella, and, further, when the ball is ICO drawn upward to open the frame of the table the strands 19 of the rope,being also carried upward, cause each leg to assume a horizontal position at a right angle to the base of the standard, the lower sides of the legs being preferably flush with the bottom of the standard. After the table has been secured in the open position, the slack of the rope 18 is passed into the standard 10 and the ball 15 replaced.

It will be understood that the frame may be covered with any desired material that fancy may dictate, and at the margin of the frame fringe may be added to the material, covering the same as an ornamentation, and in order that the operative parts may not be rendered visible when the table is folded up and stored away a curtain 25, of any approved construction and material, is secured to the runner in such manner as not to interfere with its action, and when the table is closed the said curtain'is preferably of such a length as to extend almost, if not entirely, down to the bottom of the folded legs..

Having thus described my invention,l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a folding table consisting of a standard, legs hinged to the bottom of the same, a cap loosely fitted at the top, ribs hinged to the standard below the cap, a runner held to slide upon the standard, stretchers connecting the said runner and the ribs, and a rope or cord attached to the cap and the runner, the lower end ofwhich cord is tted with strands connected with the legs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a folding table, the combination,with y a tubular standard, legs hinged to the lower end of said standard, and a cap fitted to its secured to the said legs, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

3. In a folding table, the combination,with a tubular standard having a rectangular lower end and being cylindrical throughout the remainder of its length and provided with a longitudinal slot in opposite sides, and a cap loosely7 fitted upon the upper end of the standy ard, of ribs hinged to the upper end of the standard beneath the cap, a runner held to slide upon the standard, a bar passing through the slots of the standard and attached to the runner, stretchers hinged to the said runner and to the ribs, friction-rollers journaled in openings made in the sides of the standard near the base, legs hinged to the base of the standard-one at each side-having flat inner sides and tapering outer sides, a rope secured to the cap, extending downward within y the standard and connected with the runner,

the lower end of which ropeis provided with a series of strands which extend outward in contact with the friction-rollers, one strand being attached to each leg, and a ferrule capable of tying the legs together when in the folded position, substantially as shown and described.

ALPHONSE J. DELAVIGNE.

Vitnesses:

M. A. WHITE, J. SENZENEAU. 

